Frequently Asked Questions about Gallbladder Surgery

Undergoing surgery can be stressful, as well as scary. Knowing what to expect from the process and its outcomes, however, can provide some patients with some peace of mind.

To this end, the following presents some common questions and helpful answers about gallbladder surgeries (both laparoscopic and traditional).

If you’ve already undergone gallbladder surgery and you believe that some error(s) were made at any point in your procedure, however, you can get more answers about gallbladder surgery lawsuits (and your rights and recovery options) by checking out this FAQs page or by simply contacting an experienced Midland medical malpractice lawyer at Buckingham Barrera Law Firm.

Defects that prevent the gallbladder from properly filling up or emptying (biliary dyskinesia).

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is the most common procedure (performed in about 90 percent of gallbladder removal cases). However, traditional or open gallbladder surgery will be performed when laparoscopic surgery is inappropriate (as a result of a patient’s condition, for instance).

A – Not necessarily. Each procedure (open and laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgeries) has its own risks. Various factors can impact the specific risks a given patient will face when undergoing either traditional or laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.

The experience (or lack of experience) the surgeon has with these surgeries – According to the National Institute of Health, there tends to be a far greater risk of gallbladder surgery errors when surgeons have performed less than 25 of these operations.

A patient’s medical history

The current state of a patient’s health (i.e., whether a patient is living with any other health issues or impairments).

Q – How Often Do Patients Develop Injuries or Complications from Gallbladder Removal Surgery?

A – About 1 in every 200 patients who undergo gallbladder removal surgery will develop complications. This translates to about 4,000 patients experiencing gallbladder surgery injuries every year in the U.S.

Here, it’s critical to note that many healthcare professionals believe that this is an underestimate of the rate of gallbladder surgery injuries (due to underreporting of these injuries, as well as the fact that some injuries may go misdiagnosed or undetected).

Q – What Is the Recovery from Gallbladder Surgery Like? What Should I Expect after Undergoing Gallbladder Surgery?

A – When gallbladder surgery goes smoothly (and no mistakes occur during the procedure), patients in recovery can generally expect to experience minor, short-term complications like:

Stomach cramping

Increased frequency of bowel movements

Difficulties digesting fatty foods.

To limit these issues and facilitate the recovery process, medical professionals generally recommend the following for patients:

Try not to eat meals (or larger amounts of food) during the later evening hours.

If these diet and lifestyle changes don’t reduce or eliminate patients’ discomfort during the recovery process:

Medication(s) may be prescribed.

Additional treatment(s) may be necessary.

If, however, patients start developing a fever, serious stomach pain, and/or nausea, more serious complications may have developed – and it WILL be vital to seek immediate medical attention.

Get More Answers Now: Contact a Midland Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Buckingham Barrera Law Firm

If you or a loved one has suffered any gallbladder surgery injuries, you can get more answers about your rights and recovery options by contacting a Midland medical malpractice lawyer at Buckingham Barrera Law Firm today.

Simply call (432) 570-1919 or email our firm via the contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.

From offices based in Midland, our skilled lawyers provide superior service and advocacy to injured people throughout Midland County, the state of Texas, the state of New Mexico, and the U.S.